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Deutsche Telekom Loses a Battle,
But Demonstrates It's in the War

By

William BostonStaff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal

Updated May 26, 1999 12:01 a.m. ET

BONN -- For a man who has burned so many bridges lately, Ron Sommer is in pretty good shape.

The Deutsche Telekom chief executive can point to healthy revenues and profits, a 72% owner -- the German government -- that backs him, and board members who have supported his riskiest moves, including his dramatic run at Telecom Italia .